Tips n tricks on how to get certified on the AWS platform

1. AWS Certifications:
The journey with tips n tricks

2. Senior Cloud Engineer:
DevOps, Automation and Security
Slalom Consulting
10+ years in the IT space
Started as a UNIX/Linux administrator
Worked at: Citigroup, Indigo, Bluecat Networks
In Cloud since 2014 (AWS)
Passionate about Cloud Architecture, DevOps and
Cloud Best Practices.

3. 9 certifications in total:
1 foundational
3 associate
3 specialty
2 professional

5. Cloud Practitioner
This exam covers four domains, including: cloud concepts, security, technology, and billing
and pricing
Provides individuals with an overall understanding of the AWS
Cloud to validate their knowledge with an industry-recognized
credential.

6. Architect
Validates technical knowledge for solutions architects, solution design
engineers, and anyone who designs applications and systems on AWS.
Solutions Architect - Associate
● Architect & deploy
● Security
● High availability
● Cost efficiency
● Scalability
● 1 + years experience
Solutions Architect - Professional
● Associate level cert is a prerequisite
● Advanced architect and deploy
● Advanced design
● 2 + years hands on experience
● Renews SA Associate

7. Developer
Developing exams validate technical knowledge for software developers
who develop cloud applications on AWS.
Developer - Associate
● Develop & maintain applications
● Application design
● Knowledge of 1+ languages
● 1 + years experience
DevOps Engineer - Professional
● Dev or SysOps Associate is a pre-requisite
● Advanced provisioning and operations
● Advanced managing distributed applications
● 2 + years hands on experience
● Renews Dev and/or SysOps associate

8. Operations
Validates technical knowledge for SysOps administrators, systems
administrators, and those in a DevOps role who create automatable and
repeatable deployments of applications, networks, and systems on the AWS
platform.
SysOps Administrator - Associate
● Deployment
● Management
● Operations
● 1 + years experience
DevOps Engineer - Professional
● Dev or SysOps Associate is a pre-requisite
● Advanced provisioning and operations
● Advanced managing distributed applications
● 2 + years hands on experience
● Renews Dev and/or SysOps associate

9. Specialties
Specialty exams validate technical knowledge for AWS experts who also possess expertise in
specific technical areas. They’re designed for individuals with at least one role-based AWS
Certification plus deep proficiency and real-world experience in an area of specialization.
Advanced Networking – Specialty
● Complex networking tasks
● Expertise in designing and implementing AWS and hybrid IT architectures at scale
Big Data – Specialty
● Designing and implementing AWS services to derive value from data
● Complex Big Data analysis
Advanced Security – Specialty
● Securing AWS platform
● 2 + years experience in AWS security

10. Why Certify?
Expose yourself to new AWS services
Learn something new about familiar services (challenge yourself)
Help yourself and others
Improve your company’s profile with potential clients
Gain knowledge and Insight on all resources within the platform
More skills within your IT toolbox
Advance your career

11. Study Materials
Associate Level: A Cloud Guru
Professional Level: A Cloud Guru, Linux Academy
Specialties: A Cloud Guru
In Classroom: Many providers
Honorable Mention: YouTube

12. Practice Exams
Whiz Labs
Breadth of Content
A Cloud Guru
End of course quizzes
Linux Academy
Thorough coverage
AWS official practice exams
Cheap but short

13. Whitepapers
Extremely valuable
Specific white papers per certification
All Certifications
Overview of Amazon Web Services
AWS Well-Architected Framework
AWS Storage Services Overview
AWS Best Practices for DDoS Resiliency
Amazon Virtual Private Cloud Network Connectivity Options
AWS Security Best Practices

14. Multiple Choice/Multiple Answer - Pass ~65%
Cloud Practitioner: 90min - 65 questions
Assoc: 130min - 65 questions (2018) or 80min - 55 questions
Specialty: 170min - 65 questions
Professional: 170min - 77 questions
Exam Format

15. Exam booking
Don’t book until you’re ready
Get your hands dirty
Do course labs
Use the web console & the CLI
Don’t just memorize,
understand the services
Exam Tactics

16. Exam Tactics
Read the question and understand what it’s asking
Filter extraneous information
Look for keywords
Lowest cost, highly available, highest performance
You can always return to a question
If a question is giving you trouble flag it and come back

17. Read the answers
Can help you analyze the question
Exam Tactics
If a question is giving you trouble, flag it and come back to it later
Keep track of your time
Adjust your approach accordingly
If you don’t know, guess
There are no penalties